Terence Steele injury update: Dallas Cowboys OT's absence from training camp explained

Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Terence Steele did not practice Thursday, leading to speculation about his injury status. After having his ankle evaluated, NFL insider Jane Slater reported on Friday that Steele is dealing with a high ankle sprain.

According to Slater, Steele should only be sitting out for a few days. He has been a staple of the Cowboys’ offensive line since he was drafted in 2020, starting in 74 of 79 games he’s played in.

Sources tells me it’s a high ankle sprain for #Cowboys T Terence Steele. I’m told it’s not considered a major injury and will only have him sitting out a few days. Good news for the lineman

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 25, 2025

Steele attended Steele High School (Cibolo, TX), where he was a three-star recruit and committed to Texas Tech. While a member of the program, Steele blocked for future Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes and received Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors. He went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, but quickly latched on with the Cowboys, where he’s been ever since.

The San Antonio native signed a five-year, $86.8 million contract extension with the Cowboys on Sept. 3, 2023. He will once again be a vital piece in blocking for quarterback Dak Prescott this season.

Jerry Jones seems to walk back signing Steele and Diggs

Earlier this week, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones hinted at regretting his decision to sign Steele and Trevon Diggs to their massive extension two years ago. He did so to the media in California.

“Frankly, should we have waited on Diggs and Steele?” Jones asked. “I mean, you brought them up. I didn’t.”

On July 25, 2023, the Cowboys signed Diggs to a five–year, $97.00 million contract extension. Diggs was the NFL’s interception leader and an All-Pro in 2021. Additionally, Diggs was a Pro Bowler in the 2022 campaign. However, after signing his lucrative contract in the summer of 2023, Diggs tore his ACL just two weeks into the regular season. He returned for the 2024 campaign, but was ultimately sidelined again due to a groin injury.

On Dec. 14, 2024, the Cowboys announced that Diggs would be undergoing a season-ending surgery on the same leg that he’d torn his ACL in. Diggs opted to rehab away from the team most of this offseason. In turn, the Cowboys exercised their contractual right to dock $500,000 of Diggs’ base salary.

Diggs is currently on the Cowboys’ PUP (physically unable to perform) list. While Steele hasn’t had any injury issues (until now) since signing his extension, he certainly hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Steele particularly struggled in pass protection last season. The Cowboys took a chance on Steele in 2023 while he was still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to achieve the same success on the field since.

On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.